gravity...

Becca is engaged!
Being in love...it's as if there is a gravitational pull, a chemical imbalance until that one is with you, and then all that you are becomes real...and because those moments are shared together, each morsel of life tastes more delicious and every colour appears more vivid.

You know the ad that says: "Life comes at you fast..."? Well in this case, that's true. We shot these images last autumn as a secret session for Becca's boyfriend, Dan. Now, he's her fiance! I have been wanting to post a slideshow sneak-peek of some of those images to show how beautiful she is (obviously to her soon-to-be husband, and to the rest of the world) and today was the perfect day.

Becca wanted to capture all the romance and glamour of the old Hollywood ingenues because many of those old film stars and musicals are her favorites. This 19-year-old loves Frank Sinatra, Judy Garland musicals, Disneyland and reading on a rainy day. Becca is a Southern California native, but she has traveled to over half the U.S. before she was 18. She told me she could make smoothies in her sleep (that's her job), and that, now more than anything, she prays for God's perfect will in her future with Dan.

itunes: Sara Barailles( live ).......Gravity



Becca confesses that she's had a crush on Dan since she first laid eyes on him in junior high.They together now lead those students in praise and worship at their church. Becca, with her sweet clear voice, sings and plays piano/keyboards, and Dan leads the group playing guitar and singing.

Becca is very special to me. She has been one of the people who loved me unconditionally when I moved here to California. She is truly my friend. She is the epitome of outer beauty, inner peace and joy. She just asked if I would photograph their wedding...I would be honored (no arm twisting necessary) and look forward to shooting their engagement session soon! Thank you Becca...


"my gift is how I see life...my art is telling your story"

the unknown soldiers

Why is it that when you are in a tremendous hurry, or you have to be somewhere on time and you are in "late arrival" mode, objects from the universe are placed in front of you, hurling randomly into your path from the nether regions of outer space to find themselves between you and your destination? This was one of those chaotic moments I speak of as I maneuvered through the waves of human life crushing past me on this day in the Jackson Hartsfield Atlanta International Airport. There is an old saying in the south... " Whether you are going to heaven or hell, you have to connect through Atlanta". This might be true.
On this day I am traveling to Orlando from Orange County, California. I am in a hurry.( really) I am not LATE. I have plenty of time (20 min.)before the plane takes off. Out of the corner of my eye, (the other corner is dodging airport shuttle traffic, small human engines running from parents, folks older than me dragging luggage and what seems to be the years of taking a slower pace) I notice a man lying on the floor of a gateway in the E terminal reading a book The Shack with his head on a backpack. He is wearing camouflage. Not that once trendy sand camo....real standard military issue camo. Before I can completely stop in the flow of passengers I realize there are about 10 or maybe 15 more dressed accordingly at his gate waiting. Hmmm? I now have 15 minutes.
I believe that there are enough miraculous moments to capture with my camera without ever leaving my neighborhood that could keep me busy for a lifetime. I could spend hours just shooting the sunlight pouring in my window on my staircase, more time than should be allowed. The story is there you have to see it, catch it, and realize that it may be your only chance before the light changes and the moment is gone. This was one of those "story" moments. I wanted to be in it. I wanted everyone to be in it also.
I placed my gear at my gate with a very understanding, reliable looking elderly couple and told them what I needed to do. My gear was in capable hands. (do not ever do this, it's always against airport security)I grabbed my camera-without an external flash so as to be less obtrusive( and also to prevent camera confiscation)and pinballed back down the terminal dodging bodies to catch these moments. I asked for verbal permission since I had no waivers with me. I am the photo sniper.
I had to wait until the traffic cleared to catch the first few shots. The light was ugly yellow green fluorescent ( pardon my very low resolutions and my camera shake),but the reflection off the floor gave me a great shot for my soldier reading his book. I quickly darted around the gate, asking their stories, telling mine, and asking permission from those not sleeping. I can't stop. I have 10 minutes.
Ten minutes for the men and women who were all from different platoons. They were brought together to form one team. They didn't know each other, they only know this was not a drill, or training, they were going off together to work. It was their mission, their job, what they had been training for...soldiers, heroes, just regular folk. Their connection was delayed that day and they had been there for hours, waiting. Checking family updates online, writing loved ones, playing computer games, eating pizza, sleeping, praying, listening to music on their iPods, and waiting. Their destination was Afghanistan. Maybe you have thought about them. Prayed or spoken quiet wishes for them. Theirs is not a job I could do, or want to do. I love these women and men. They are doing this for their families, for us, and for each other. Thank you isn't enough.
I want to try to thank you, all of you for going there for me. For standing up for what you believe, and for waiting there that day. I got to meet you. You are amazing Americans. You are my heroes. You gave me time with you, and now I know what to pray for you. That is the least I can do, and here are the (21) photos I promised you. Thank you.

p.s. I was the last to board my flight..., but I made it. I trust you all did too.






















































































































Dear heroes,
If you would like a copy of an image of you for your family please get in touch with me through my website contact page, it would be my pleasure to send one to them.
God bless you, -cece









































"my gift is how I see life...my art is telling your story"

bryce

Meet Bryce. I promised to shoot an environmental/lifestyle session with him without any interruption by his three brothers. He's a witty, laid back, soft spoken, deep thinking, very athletic twin! (I hope to get some images soon of that other guy that came into the world with him!) Each of the brothers has uniquely different personalities and interests. Bryce's family has always been a favorite of mine to shoot because of the closeness between them and their level of comfort with my camera in their faces!

(It helps me to have a conversation {a little interrogation if you will} before I begin our session together to get to know what you are about and to make the moments more comfortable, and to make it easier to catch the real you)

I know Bryce even better every time I look over these images. I asked him so many off-the-wall questions... nothing phased him, he just kept tail-spinning, ollie-ing and flipping his board like it was an extension of his body. Pretty amazing stuff! These images do not do justice to his abilities, but it was fun for me rolling around on the street and city back alleys to get the shots. I love my job!

Here's a snippet of our conversation:
c- "So Bryce, if you had a year to do anything you wanted without the worry of finances or missing school, where would you go and what would you do?"
B- "I would probably hang out with my friends alot, eat anything I wanted, travel to different countries, skate and maybe try to break a world record."
c- "So, you have a girl friend right?" (anything to get that attitude expression.....)
B- "uhmmm..........."
(Client gives piercing look of disbelief with a stunning wrinkled brow....photographer minds her own business and deletes inquiry from her mental list of questions as she moves quickly to the next location...all the while capturing 100 awesome images of the victim!) I love my job!

I have been photographing Bryce and his family a long time. He has three really handsome brothers, amazing parents who love him and an adorable dog (Daisy) who likes to be outside playing ball as much as Bryce does. It was tough narrowing down which images to use here. Thank you Bryce for spending this time with me... your twin brother is next, right Sid?

"my gift is how I see life...my art is telling your story"

bff

Best friends...

Someone who keeps your secrets, always has a listening ear, who cries with you when your heart hurts, who laughs with you until your sides burst, and encourages you to be a better you.

Someone you may not always see eye-to-eye with or completely agree, but who stands up for you when you haven't the strength to do so yourself. True friends may not necessarily tell you what you want to hear, but tell you what you need to know, and love you for all your uniqueness.

Alyssa and Jessi are best friends forever. They are tight, almost inseparable. They met in middle school in a bible study, and now in their senior year spend hours together encouraging each other's dreams and talents. One spends her days dreaming of music and dance, effortlessly scoring college scholarships, and working in overseas missions. One dreams of becoming a human rights lawyer, excelling at softball and soccer, dreaming of visiting Egypt(her favorite place in the world).They both dream of a loving husband someday, a house full of kids and strengthening their faith in God.

I am so encouraged that at this time in their lives they seem so fully engaged with the world's needs, where they will be used and what directions they will take in life. They pray that "...the world would not be so cynical, but more loving, and less selfish. People just need to be loved."

I agree... thank you Jessi and Alyssa. I loved the secret place we stumbled upon to shoot your session. You guys were up for "anything" and you were terrific with my insane ideas! You made this shoot for me so much fun! I wish I could show the entire session right here, including all those crazy things we did... it was a day of perfect light, awesome friends, and precious memories.

more of their Senior Portrait session ....

So what's a Stress your Dress experience? I promised to tell you one day.

It's taking your old bridesmaid, or prom/homecoming/gala formal gowns and treating them as if you are in your favorite t-shirt and jeans. The same goes for a Drown the Gown session... only we get a little wet at the beach, a lake, or even dancing through a fountain. (trust me, I have had clients dive off docks in their old wedding gowns just to get the perfect photo!)

I came up with this idea staring at the 13 ugly dresses I had clinging for dear life on the hangers in the depths of my closet, each from a celebration of my friends or family members' weddings where I was asked to be an attendant. All now have the rainbow of threads bearing dust condos from the last time they graced my then thin hips, and sadly never were my taste for fashion.
We abandon any hope we will ever really get to wear them again. They hang hermetically sealed in some space saving envelope until that moment we either heirloom them to our next generation or, perhaps the creative few of us, make Christmas decorations out of them. We think of all the possible reasons to try them on and see if they still fit, hoping to be a dress diva one more time, and be the princess we always hoped to be for one magical moment rather than a carbon copy of the girl standing next to us at the event.

"Look at us... we are beautiful too." That's what we would say if we were honest, and then twirl around the room like a five-year-old in the perfect light without background music (except the tune we hear in our heads).

This is how I want you to feel when our sessions begin... like the beautiful woman you are, but I want to capture the young girl inside who's twitching to get out and dance , twirl and leap with glee like a kindergartner (or at least one with joy and no inhibitions!). Live, laugh, love...like you mean it!




Here's the recipe:
Sift out old bridesmaids gowns, or those formal gowns you promised yourself you would re-purpose and
"wear again"
Mix in the attitude of your inner child, with a dash of diva
Fold in that comfortable feeling of your favorite t-shirt and jeans
Spread into a vignette of juxtaposed background elements that give us a hint of who you really are
Toast the moments in amber light with a generous sprinkling of waves, silhouettes, and muddy earth
Yield one great "drown the gown" ,"stress your dress" experience...........

NO ordinary girls allowed.....it's what's inside you that counts!


Thank you Erin for this session we shot so long ago... as usual you are an amazing, hilarious and spontaneous package, just as adorably beautiful as you were in that tutu when you were a little girl!



"my gift is how I see life...my art is telling your story"